COMMISSION 27 OF THE I.A.U.
               INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS
                            Number 1488

                                                      Konkoly Observatory
                                                      Budapest
                                                      1978 October 17


   OBSERVATIONS OF A NOVA IN THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD

On March 14, 1977, Graham has discovered a nova in the Large
Magellanic Cloud (Graham et al., 1977). Photoelectric measurements 
have been published by Lewis and Walker (1977) and by
van Genderen (1977).
   The nova has been observed in UBV with the 61 cm Cassegrain 
telescope of the Astronomical Institute of the Ruhr University
of Bochum at the European Southern Observatory (La Silla, Chile).
The measurements are listed in Table 1. Figure 1 shows the V
data. To match the measurements of the several authors in the
first days after discovery, a correction of +0.3 should be
applied to the measurements of van Genderen. Later on this 
correction seems to become smaller. The measurements of Lewis and
Walker coincide with the measurements published here. Little
differences in the spectral sensitivities of the photometric
system may hold for these discrepancies. In the same way the
B-V data of van Genderen need a correction of -0.1.
   The very smooth and quite quick decline of the V curve confirms
the previously published measurements. The B-V data show a strong
post maximum rise to the blue, a halt at -0.15m between JD 2443228
and JD 2443245, and a slow rise afterwards. From the U data a
typical post maximum development can be deduced for the two
colour index diagram (Seitter, 1978). The interstellar absorption
seems to be low.
   The t_3-time (Schmidt-Kaler, 1957) can be determined to 18d. This
means an absolute magnitude of -8.3m. Assuming a maximum brightness 
of m_V=10.5m, a distance modulus of 18.8m results, which is
in good agreement with the distance of the LMC. According to
Seitter (1978) a radius of 120 R_sun follows for the time of the
beginning of the observations published here.


                            Table    1

                    All times in JD Hel. +2443200

   t      V      B-V   U-B           t        V        B-V    U-B

19.616  11.33    .14   -.61          33.590   13.51    -.15   -.77
20.537  11.40    .08   -.55          34.526   13.80:   -.2
21.525  11.69    .03   -.70          35.515   13.55:   -.2 
22.521  11.81    .04   -.78          36.526   13.55:   -.1
23.521  12.05    .05   -.71          37.516   13.75:   -.1
24.724  12.20                        38.567   13.85:   -.1
25.539  12.56   -.13   -.77          40.513   13.91    -.11   -.74
26.517  12.49   -.07   -.79          42.538   14.10    -.15   -.80
27.504  12.82   -.12   -.81          43.518   14.30:   -.2
28.501  12.95   -.12   -.82          49.535   14.05:   -.1
29.523  13.02   -.18   -.73          45.516   14.25:   -.2
30.518  13.11   -.10   -.78          46.519   14.44    -.25   -.79
31.519  13.30                        48.539   14.50:   -.2
32.554  13.50   -.21   -.77          49.524   14.45:   -.3

                       [FIGURE 1]

 Figure 1.: V curve of the nova. Small dots have lower weight.

      
                          M. HOFFMANN

                     Observatorium Hoher List
                 der Universitats-Sternwarte Bonn
                         5568 Daun/Eifel



References:

Graham, J.A., Rojas, H., Cantera, R., 1977, IAU Circular 3049 [BIBCODE 1977IAUC.3049....1G ]
Lewis, B.M., Walker, W.S.G., 1977, IAU Circular 3069 [BIBCODE 1977IAUC.3069....2L ]
Schmidt-Kaler, Th., 1957, Zeitschr. Astrophys. 41, 182 [BIBCODE 1957ZA.....41..182S ]
Seitter, W.C., 1978, Mitteilungen Astron. Gesellsch. 43, 206 [BIBCODE 1978MitAG..43..206S ]
van Genderen, A.M., 1977, IAU Circular 3082 [BIBCODE 1977IAUC.3082....4V ]